Local stores stocked with plenty of storm essentials

By ROBIN KAMINSKIHour Staff Writer

Published
4:31 pm EST, Thursday, February 7, 2013

Hour Photo/ Alex von Kleydorff. Kathy Anderson buys a snow shovel at Carlyn hardware on Westport Ave. Business was brisk with area residents preparing for a snow storm and are buying everything thats emergency related. Snow shovels, fireplace wood, gas cans and generators and salt were some of the fast selling items

Hour Photo/ Alex von Kleydorff. Kathy Anderson buys a snow shovel at Carlyn hardware on Westport Ave. Business was brisk with area residents preparing for a snow storm and are buying everything thats emergency

Hour Photo/ Alex von Kleydorff. Kathy Anderson buys a snow shovel at Carlyn hardware on Westport Ave. Business was brisk with area residents preparing for a snow storm and are buying everything thats emergency related. Snow shovels, fireplace wood, gas cans and generators and salt were some of the fast selling items

Hour Photo/ Alex von Kleydorff. Kathy Anderson buys a snow shovel at Carlyn hardware on Westport Ave. Business was brisk with area residents preparing for a snow storm and are buying everything thats emergency

With a massive storm poised to arrive on New England's doorstep Friday and overstay its welcome well into Saturday, locals are stocking up on storm essentials that run the gamut from food to alcohol.

"Oh we've been very busy," said Total Wine & More manager Tom Perry. "It's funny because I used to be on the other side of retail where we sold the storm staples of milk and bread, so it's very interesting to see the rush of people buying the other essentials."

Gas stations have also been busy on Thursday as several stations in the area have run out of gas and other stations have long lines.

Perry said while the store wasn't quite as busy on Thursday as say the weekend, customers still poured in at a steady clip to snatch up their beverages of choice.

"People like to have storm parties and what could be more romantic than drinking wine by candlelight if the power goes out?" Perry said. "Customers have been coming in to buy whatever they would normally come in for -- hard liquor, beer and wine. It's spread out pretty evenly."

After stocking the liquor cabinet, customers headed on over to several Stop & Shop locations in Norwalk and Stew Leonard's to complete their grocery list.

"We've had extra staff on for the rush and been very busy all day," said Stew Leonard's Director of Operations Les Slater. "We haven't run out of anything, certainly not the basics. We didn't anticipate the storm, but we are built up for the weekend, so we're prepared."

Slater said the store may slightly extend their hours depending on customer demand, but as of now, the hours remain the usual 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Over at Stop & Shop, Arlene Putterman, Manager of Public Affairs and Communications said local stores are fully prepared with everything customers need to brave the storm.

"We have all the milk, bread and water customers need, but also, since the kids will be home, we are well stocked on waffles, pancakes and macaroni," Putterman said. "Fortunately, we had a few days notice of the storm, so we were able to quickly replenish our shelves. We're ready."